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Cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly with chronic medical conditions
1Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. m.jelicic@med.rug.nl
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|December 13, 1997
Summary
Chronic medical conditions like stroke and asthma/bronchitis may impact cognitive function in older adults. However, most conditions showed no consistent effect on cognitive performance in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive function is crucial for maintaining independence in older adults.
- Chronic medical conditions are prevalent in the elderly population.
- Understanding the link between health status and cognition is vital for aging well.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 18 chronic medical conditions and cognitive function.
- To assess cognitive performance in a large sample of community-dwelling elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a checklist to identify 18 chronic medical conditions in 4528 elderly participants.
- Administered the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) to evaluate cognitive functioning.
Main Results:
- Respondents with asthma/bronchitis and stroke showed a trend towards lower MMSE scores, even after controlling for age, education, and depression.
- No significant association was found between any of the 18 medical conditions and a higher likelihood of scoring below the cognitive dysfunction cutoff.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly appears largely unaffected by most specific chronic diseases.
- Stroke and asthma/bronchitis may be exceptions, warranting further investigation into their impact on cognition.